Software plays a critical role in today's global informationeconomy. It runs the computers, networks, and devicesthat enable countless products and services. Softwarevaries in size from vast enterprise and communicationssystems like the enormous enterprise resource planningsystem from SAP to the tiny app Angry Birds. This book offers a profile of the software industry and thecompanies in the industry. It describes the primary productsand services produced; reviews its history; explainshow the industry is structured; discusses its economics andcompetitive environment; and examines important tren.